Arizona @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 11, 2010 ) Pittsburgh 6, Arizona 15

The Pittsburgh Pirates return home after a wretched road trip to open a nine-game homestand, beginning with a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks that starts Friday.

Pittsburgh managed one win in a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds and was swept in a four-game series against the New York Mets. Pittsburgh has lost four straight overall and dropped to 15-59 on the road this season.

The Pirates are the only team in the majors without 50 wins (48-98) and are a whopping 34 1/2 games behind the Reds in the National League Central.
Pittsburgh has at least managed to be somewhat competitive at home, with a record of 33-39.

Brian Burres (3-3) gets the start for the Pirates and will be facing the Diamondbacks for the third time in his career, but the first time this season.

Pittsburgh has won both of Burres' last two starts, 3-1 decisions against Atlanta and Cincinnati. Burres did not get a decision Sunday against the Reds but was solid, allowing one run and four hits with six strikeouts in seven innings. He has an ERA of 1.38 in his last two starts.

The Diamondbacks are in the basement of the NL West but are not rolling over for anyone and are coming off a split of a four-game series against Cincinnati. Arizona posted a 3-1 victory on Thursday, limiting the Reds to a run in the first inning before shutting them down the rest of the way.

Arizona has actually been a pain for some of the NL playoff contenders lately, going 11-11 over the last month against San Diego (4-2), San Francisco (3-3), Cincinnati (2-2) and Colorado (2-4).

Like Pittsburgh, Arizona has been competitive at home but a different team on the road. The Diamondbacks are 59-88 overall and a respectable 35-40 at home, but are just 24-48 on the road and are 2-5 on their current 10-game road trip.

Ian Kennedy (9-9) gets the start for the Diamondbacks and looks to continue a solid stretch.

Kennedy has won his last three decisions, a streak that should be even better considering how he has pitched of late. Kennedy has not allowed a run in his last two starts, pitching 14 innings during that span with 12 strikeouts and five walks, yet he has nothing to show for it.

The Diamondbacks have lost each of Kennedy's last two starts although the lefthander has not figured in the decision in either contest.

A first round pick of the New York Yankees in 2006, Kennedy is making his first career start against Pittsburgh. Kennedy is 5-5 in 15 road starts this season with an ERA of 4.14.